What Happens If India Refuses to Play Pakistan in the Asia Cup?
It's a no-brainer that India vs Pakistan is the biggest box-office clash in cricket. But just how much financial damage would it cause if India pulls out of an Asia Cup fixture against Pakistan?
Let’s get into the numbers.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) currently has five full members: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. The broadcast revenue earned from tournaments like the Asia Cup is split evenly among them — with each board receiving 15% of the total revenue. The remaining 25% is allocated to associate members and commercial partners.
Now, the ACC’s broadcast rights were sold for a staggering ₹1,400 crore over an eight-year cycle. And let’s not kid ourselves — a massive chunk of that valuation comes from India’s presence.
If India decides to opt out of the tournament or refuses to play Pakistan, the commercial ecosystem around the Asia Cup could collapse. Broadcasters and sponsors consider India the crown jewel — without them, the tournament loses its sparkle, and possibly, its entire relevance.
Media estimates suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earns approximately ₹220 crore per Asia Cup cycle — thanks in large part to the India clash. If India pulls the plug, PCB would have to kiss that revenue goodbye.
There’s precedent too. When India refused to play in the Champions Trophy scheduled in Pakistan, reports claim PCB suffered a massive ₹700 crore loss. To this day, that financial hole hasn’t been fully recovered.
Sure, if India withdraws, the BCCI would also forfeit its 15% revenue share. But here’s the catch — for the richest cricket board in the world, that amount is negligible. What’s more important to them is the bigger picture. Because for the BCCI, it’s not just about money. It’s about principle. And when push comes to shove, they’ve made one thing abundantly clear: For India, country comes before cricket — always.
